In Remembrance

Yesterday was set aside as a time to remember all those patriots who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country. This is a good thing. It is unfortunate that more attention isn’t paid to the true observance of Memorial Day without the interference of commercialism and recreation. As I attempted to reflect, however, on the price paid by those who gave up their lives for their country, I could not help but remember a greater sacrifice made on behalf of humankind. Protestant Christians kept only two sacraments from their Roman Catholic roots: baptism and communion. Focusing upon the symbolism of the bread and cup instead of supernatural transubstantiation, the Protestant sacrament is grounded in the words: Do this in remembrance of me. This creates a real dilemma for those of us who consider ourselves both patriotic Americans and faithful Christians. The truth is that the sacred calling preempts the secular. For those willing to adopt the sacrificial spirit of the Prince of Peace there can be no opportunity to lose one’s life to the throes of war and violence. This is certainly not intended to demean those who have lost their lives in service to their country, but it is rather to say that true disciples of the Christ pledge their allegiance to the Cross which makes it impossible to embrace any endeavor other than turning the other cheek in the spirit of love. Yes, it is a good thing to remember our war dead. But it is a far better thing still to remember—and to follow—the one whose life and teachings triumph over evil and give the true victory to those who love one another as they have been loved.